5.2.1. Key Concepts Review: Cloud Fundamentals

💡 First Principle: A robust understanding of cloud fundamentals, including core characteristics, benefits, and deployment models, provides the essential foundation for any cloud professional.

This review consolidates the basic definitions and principles of cloud computing.

Core Cloud Fundamentals:

• What is Cloud Computing? On-demand delivery of IT resources over the internet with pay-as-you-go pricing.
• Key Characteristics:
  • On-demand self-service, broad network access, resource pooling, rapid elasticity, measured service.
• Benefits:
  • Trade capital expense for variable expense.
  • Massive economies of scale.
  • Stop guessing capacity.
  • Increase speed and agility.
  • Stop spending money running data centers.
  • Go global in minutes.
• Types of Cloud Computing (Service Models):
  • IaaS: Infrastructure as a Service (e.g., EC2).
  • PaaS: Platform as a Service (e.g., Elastic Beanstalk).
  • SaaS: Software as a Service (e.g., Gmail, Salesforce).
• Cloud Deployment Models:
  • Public Cloud: Owned and managed by third-party provider (e.g., AWS).
  • Private Cloud: Exclusive use by a single organization (on-premises or hosted).
  • Hybrid Cloud: Combination of public and private clouds.

Scenario: You need to explain the basics of cloud computing, its benefits, and different service models to someone new to the concept.

Reflection Question: How does understanding the core characteristics (e.g., elasticity), benefits (e.g., cost savings), and deployment/service models of cloud computing fundamentally provide a robust foundation for any cloud professional?